Like its Chrome browser counterpart, Chrome OS has finally reached its 100th version. Google is completely updating its operating system every four weeks or so†The new release comes with a redesigned Chrome OS launcher designed to make it more intuitive and customizable for Chromebook users.
The launcher (for Windows users, it’s the equivalent of the start menu) has a friendlier design than previous launchers, with more rounded corners. It now opens from the side of the screen instead of the center. (This is where the Windows Start menu has been for eons — it’s, oddly enough, moved to the center in Windows 11).
There are also new options for sorting icons – you can manually arrange and organize them by name or color. The search bar shows more detailed samples from Google as you type and can search between your Chrome tabs if you have a bunch open.
This launcher has been floating around for a while; it was spotted in the here-be-dragons Canary Canal last summer. His early days had some nodswhich Google has presumably had plenty of time to work out.
Other updates coming to Chrome OS include a new dictation editing feature – you can now say “delete” while dictating to delete the previous letter you typed or “go to the next character” to get your cursor jump forward one letter – GIF creation in the camera app, YouTube monitoring in Family Link, and a new YouTube app with offline access. For IT admins, Google’s Admin console has a new “to quickly see which devices need attention” report.